London roads and river crossings

New investment in public transport is welcomed, but must respond to the needs of Londoners and not commit us to an unsustainable future.

London is going through a transformation with more people than ever choosing to live and work here, despite it getting increasingly difficult and expensive to do so.

Roads to nowhere

As more people are living further away from their work, the need for investment in new and improved public transport has been recognised by successive governments. Despite car use in London being in decline, old proposals and plans have re-emerged for additional road crossings in east and southeast London.

Londoners have long resisted further expansion of the road network in their city and do not want these roads to nowhere. Providing new road capacity, no matter how well intentioned, creates new and insatiable demand. London regularly experiences severe air pollution incidents and these unnecessary new roads will contribute to this public health menace.

During the campaign, the new Mayor of London Sadiq Khan promised to make air quality a priority, and review Silvertown and other road crosssings: we’re challenging him to keep his promise. Halting the new road crossings would free up billions of pounds to spend on greener transport instead.

Another way

There is a better alternative to new roads to the east of Tower Bridge. London needs new rail, pedestrian and cycle connections over the River Thames and better quality links to the centre. Building a new bridge or tunnel will offer nothing for the off-peak commuter from Rainham stuck with a 2 trains per hour service, or workers in Canary Wharf who want to make a short, local journey home across the river.